“I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.” (Numbers 11:14, ESV)
While traveling in the wilderness toward the promised land, God made sure the people had enough to eat. Early on, God sent them manna, which gave the people enough food for sustenance. But the people craved more and better food. They became disenchanted with the manna God provided and began to complain to Moses. They were hungry for meat and cried out for better food. Moses wanted to fix this, and asked God to do something. God was angry at the audacity of the people of Israel. Their food was sustaining them. God was providing. They just weren’t happy with the accommodations. And the scripture states emphatically that “the anger of the Lord blazed hotly” (Numbers 11:10) against the complainers who were not satisfied.
In the midst of this food crisis in the wilderness, Moses became overwhelmed by all his burdens. He was responsible for conveying God’s wishes to the people of Israel. He was responsible to God for the faithfulness of the people. Daily, Moses carried the weight of spiritual, moral, and ethical choices, as well as the burden of finding food and water in the wilderness. He helped correct wrongs, oversaw injustices, and planned for a future entry into the promised land. Moses had his own family responsibilities as well. With all the duties and tasks placed upon Moses, he faltered in Numbers 11. He could not bear all the responsibilities and burdens required any longer. He was getting on in years. He just didn’t have the stamina, though he had the desire to soldier on. Moses approached God for help using the words used in the scripture for today. Moses said to the Lord God, “I am not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy for me.” (Numbers 11:14).
Immediately after asking for God’s help to carry all these burdens, God stepped in. God forced Moses to chose seventy elders among the Israelites (Numbers 11:16). They were to help Moses to lead the people. God also sent quails to descend on the camp (Numbers 11:32). Thus, the people were able to eat meat. In essence, God supplied all the needs in that moment, plus God gave Moses other spiritual leaders to help him bear the burden of leadership. God didn’t lessen Moses’ responsibilities. Those responsibilities were crucial for Israel’s future! Instead, the Lord God supplied elders to help bear the load of Moses and more food to help ease the hunger of the people of Israel.
God also will help you with difficult burdens in your life. Have you ever had a time when your burdens became overwhelming? Did oppressive responsibilities ever take a terrible toll upon your spiritual life and physical health? At times like this, it is crucial to reevaluate your responsibilities and call upon the Lord for help. Then, listen for the Lord to lead you to the changes required in order to deal with your situation.
Earl was the father of three young girls. When his wife died of cancer in 1946, Earl did his best for his girls. Though grieving the loss of his wife, Earl gave the three a lot of love. Relatives stepped in to help care for the girls while Earl worked. Also, neighbors and friends brought food and offered to watch the girls whenever Earl was called in unexpectedly to work.
After two years of work at the plant while solely taking care of all the needs of his family, Earl had lost twenty-five pounds. He was not eating right. He was pale. Often, Earl went into work with bags under his eyes from staying up with one of the girls who had an illness or with the youngest who had nightmares weekly. Though Earl was a religious man, he didn’t pray much. That changed as the weeks wore on. Earl began begging for God’s help to remedy the situation.
When a woman named Elsie down the street from Earl lost her husband to cancer, Earl understood her suffering. He tried to comfort her, knowing what it was like to lose a spouse to cancer. A few months after Elsie became a widow, Earl saw her on the sidewalk taking a stroll. Elsie asked about the girls. Earl figured that since Elsie had a daughter of her own that she wanted guidance on how to deal with a grieving daughter. Earl and Elsie talked there on the sidewalk for a good half hour. Then, Earl invited Elsie to chat more over breakfast the next day. At breakfast, Elsie offered to help Earl with the girls if Earl could help her with some of the household maintenance she could not do. The two made a pact to help each other out. What Earl did not know was that this was the beginning of their relationship that ended with their own marriage.
A year after the two were married, Elsie told Earl how she had prayed for help after her husband died from cancer. Earl explained that he had done the same after the death of his wife. When the two compared notes, they realized that not only were they praying for some of the same things but that they were certain that God was behind all of it! God was helping each to carry their heavy burdens. They were amazed how God had done such a beautiful thing in bringing them together!
It surprises me that people don’t see more of God’s work in easing people’s burdens and caring for their needs! God often works in the background to supply what we need when we need it. So too, when we have a legitimate need (not just a want or wish!), God will often find a way to help. You may not see it right away, but the help will be forthcoming!
Do you need some help carrying a heavy load? Seek God’s help! See if God has some people in mind to help you bear the load! Pray to God for strength. Recognize the Holy Spirit’s guidance. God loves you so much that HE is even now working to carry you through…..
Look back in your life… have you noticed the times when God helped you, protected you, supplied a need, or gave you strength? How many times has God sent someone to help you at just the right time?
In the midst of this food crisis in the wilderness, Moses became overwhelmed by all his burdens. He was responsible for conveying God’s wishes to the people of Israel. He was responsible to God for the faithfulness of the people. Daily, Moses carried the weight of spiritual, moral, and ethical choices, as well as the burden of finding food and water in the wilderness. He helped correct wrongs, oversaw injustices, and planned for a future entry into the promised land. Moses had his own family responsibilities as well. With all the duties and tasks placed upon Moses, he faltered in Numbers 11. He could not bear all the responsibilities and burdens required any longer. He was getting on in years. He just didn’t have the stamina, though he had the desire to soldier on. Moses approached God for help using the words used in the scripture for today. Moses said to the Lord God, “I am not able to carry all this people alone, the burden is too heavy for me.” (Numbers 11:14).
Immediately after asking for God’s help to carry all these burdens, God stepped in. God forced Moses to chose seventy elders among the Israelites (Numbers 11:16). They were to help Moses to lead the people. God also sent quails to descend on the camp (Numbers 11:32). Thus, the people were able to eat meat. In essence, God supplied all the needs in that moment, plus God gave Moses other spiritual leaders to help him bear the burden of leadership. God didn’t lessen Moses’ responsibilities. Those responsibilities were crucial for Israel’s future! Instead, the Lord God supplied elders to help bear the load of Moses and more food to help ease the hunger of the people of Israel.
God also will help you with difficult burdens in your life. Have you ever had a time when your burdens became overwhelming? Did oppressive responsibilities ever take a terrible toll upon your spiritual life and physical health? At times like this, it is crucial to reevaluate your responsibilities and call upon the Lord for help. Then, listen for the Lord to lead you to the changes required in order to deal with your situation.
Earl was the father of three young girls. When his wife died of cancer in 1946, Earl did his best for his girls. Though grieving the loss of his wife, Earl gave the three a lot of love. Relatives stepped in to help care for the girls while Earl worked. Also, neighbors and friends brought food and offered to watch the girls whenever Earl was called in unexpectedly to work.
After two years of work at the plant while solely taking care of all the needs of his family, Earl had lost twenty-five pounds. He was not eating right. He was pale. Often, Earl went into work with bags under his eyes from staying up with one of the girls who had an illness or with the youngest who had nightmares weekly. Though Earl was a religious man, he didn’t pray much. That changed as the weeks wore on. Earl began begging for God’s help to remedy the situation.
When a woman named Elsie down the street from Earl lost her husband to cancer, Earl understood her suffering. He tried to comfort her, knowing what it was like to lose a spouse to cancer. A few months after Elsie became a widow, Earl saw her on the sidewalk taking a stroll. Elsie asked about the girls. Earl figured that since Elsie had a daughter of her own that she wanted guidance on how to deal with a grieving daughter. Earl and Elsie talked there on the sidewalk for a good half hour. Then, Earl invited Elsie to chat more over breakfast the next day. At breakfast, Elsie offered to help Earl with the girls if Earl could help her with some of the household maintenance she could not do. The two made a pact to help each other out. What Earl did not know was that this was the beginning of their relationship that ended with their own marriage.
A year after the two were married, Elsie told Earl how she had prayed for help after her husband died from cancer. Earl explained that he had done the same after the death of his wife. When the two compared notes, they realized that not only were they praying for some of the same things but that they were certain that God was behind all of it! God was helping each to carry their heavy burdens. They were amazed how God had done such a beautiful thing in bringing them together!
It surprises me that people don’t see more of God’s work in easing people’s burdens and caring for their needs! God often works in the background to supply what we need when we need it. So too, when we have a legitimate need (not just a want or wish!), God will often find a way to help. You may not see it right away, but the help will be forthcoming!
Do you need some help carrying a heavy load? Seek God’s help! See if God has some people in mind to help you bear the load! Pray to God for strength. Recognize the Holy Spirit’s guidance. God loves you so much that HE is even now working to carry you through…..
Look back in your life… have you noticed the times when God helped you, protected you, supplied a need, or gave you strength? How many times has God sent someone to help you at just the right time?